Ozone solution system with mixing apparatus

Abstract

An ozone solution system includes a single water input line routing water into the ozone solution system. A single air intake routes air into the ozone solution system. An air treatment stage treats the air and generate ozone gas. A connection injects the ozone gas into the water to form a mixture of water and aqueous ozone. A mixing apparatus downstream of the connection includes a helical shaped insertion formed by a plurality of helical mixing segments. The helical shaped insertion causes the mixture to change direction and cuts ozone bubbles within the mixture as the mixture passes therethrough. Adjacent helical segments do not align with one another. A single mixture output line routes the mixture out of the ozone solution system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ozone solution system comprising:
 a single water input line configured to route water into the ozone solution system;   a single air intake configured to route air into the ozone solution system;   one or more air treatment stages configured to treat the air and generate ozone gas;   a connection at which the ozone gas is injected into the water to form a mixture of water and aqueous ozone;   a mixing apparatus downstream of the connection, the mixing apparatus including a helical shaped insertion formed by a plurality of helical mixing segments, wherein the helical shaped insertion causes the mixture to change direction and cuts ozone bubbles within the mixture as the mixture passes therethrough, and wherein adjacent helical segments do not align with one another; and   a single mixture output line configured to route the mixture out of the ozone solution system.   
     
     
         2 . The ozone solution system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a degassing chamber, including:
 a housing having a sidewall defining a cavity between an upper end and a lower end, the cavity including a mixture area proximate the lower end and an ozone area proximate the upper end; 
 an inlet configured to deliver the mixture to the mixture area; 
 a float positioned within the cavity and configured to move along a central axis of the cavity, wherein the float is buoyant with respect to the mixture, the mixture forming a column around the float and excess ozone gas from the mixture being directed past the float to pool within the ozone area; 
 an ozone outlet configured to divert ozone gas from the ozone area out the upper end; 
 a piston connected to the float to move simultaneously with the float, wherein: when the column of the mixture rises above a threshold, the piston moves into a closed position in which the piston seals the ozone outlet; and when the column of the mixture is below the threshold, the piston moves into an open position in which the piston allows ozone gas from the ozone area to exit through the ozone outlet; and 
 a mixture outlet configured to divert the mixture from the mixture area and out the lower end, 
 wherein the degassing chamber is configured such that an ozone gas pressure builds up in the ozone region over time such that the column of the mixture is eventually driven downward by the ozone gas pressure. 
   
     
     
         3 . The ozone solution system of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing apparatus includes no more than 15 continuous helical mixing segments. 
     
     
         4 . The ozone solution system of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing apparatus includes between 10-15 helical mixing segments. 
     
     
         5 . The ozone solution system of  claim 1 , wherein each helical segment extends widthwise substantially across the entire interior diameter of a pipe of the mixing apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The ozone solution system of  claim 1 , wherein each helical segment bends substantially 180 degrees radially across the interior surface of a pipe of the mixing apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The ozone solution system of  claim 1 , wherein each helical segment bends substantially between 150-210 degrees radially across the interior surface of a pipe of the mixing apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The ozone solution system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one helical segment also includes an outward curvature towards the exterior of a pipe of the mixing apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The ozone solution system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one helical segment also includes an inward curvature towards a center of the pipe of the mixing apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The ozone solution system of  claim 2 , wherein the degassing chamber further comprises a divider connected to the lower end and positioned to divert water towards the float, the divider blocking a direct path between the inlet and mixture outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The ozone solution system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the lower end of the housing comprises a cylindrical bottom cap having a diameter greater than a diameter of the sidewall, the cylindrical bottom cap including a lower groove, wherein a lower end of the sidewall is seated within the lower groove; and   the upper end of the housing comprises a cylindrical top cap having a diameter greater than the diameter of the sidewall, the cylindrical top cap including an upper groove, wherein an upper end of the sidewall is seated within the upper groove.   
     
     
         12 . The ozone solution system of  claim 11 , wherein the degassing chamber further comprises:
 a lower O-ring positioned within the lower groove to seal the lower end of the sidewall to the cylindrical bottom cap; and   an upper O-ring positioned within the upper groove to seal the upper end of the  1  sidewall to the cylindrical top cap.   
     
     
         13 . The ozone solution system of  claim 12 , wherein the degassing chamber further comprises:
 a piston housing positioned within the cavity and centrally attached to the top cap around the ozone outlet, the piston housing including:   a piston skirt configured to guide the piston along the central axis; and   a plurality of side openings into the piston housing, the side openings providing a channel between the ozone area and the ozone outlet when the piston is in the open position, wherein the piston is configured to seal the side openings in the closed position.   
     
     
         14 . The ozone solution system of  claim 13 , wherein the piston includes a plurality of set screws extending orthogonal to the central axis and into the side openings of the piston housing, the set screws restricting movement of the float within a range along the central axis. 
     
     
         15 . The ozone solution system of  claim 2 , wherein the degassing chamber further comprises a connecting rod extending along the central axis between the float and the piston, the connecting rod rigidly connecting the float and piston. 
     
     
         16 . The ozone solution system of  claim 2 , wherein the float is buoyant such that the float is configured to rise when the mixture reaches a midway point of the float. 
     
     
         17 . The ozone solution system of  claim 2 , further comprising an ozone destruct, the ozone outlet diverting ozone gas from ozone area to the ozone destruct, the ozone destruct containing a destruct catalyst and configured to break down the ozone gas with the destruct catalyst and release oxygen. 
     
     
         18 . The ozone solution system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the inlet includes a raised lip extending into the cavity and configured to guide the mixture into the cavity; and   an upper surface of the bottom cap includes a sloped cutout sloping towards the outlet.